Donald J. Trump, former United States President and current Republican nominee, has made headlines this week…but it’s not for anything admirable. Trump has now become the first-ever ex-president to be put on trial. On March 30th of last year, the former president was indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records, a felony charge that, if convicted, could land him 4 years in prison (which, coincidentally, would be the same length as his term if he were to be elected president for the second time).
The charges came after allegations were made involving affairs with not one, but two adult film stars, and bribes that he paid them to keep them from speaking to the press during his 2016 campaign. If he is found guilty of covering up this hush money, it could set a new precedent for how much leeway presidential candidates possess and the influence they have with their voters.
This historic trial has just begun in Manhattan this week with the selection of jurors. This borough is known for having a majority Democrat population, and because of Trump’s political affiliations, jurors have been thoroughly vetted on their political history. Currently, 7 jurors have been chosen out of the required 12, and after a break on Wednesday, the remaining 5 will be selected by the presiding judge Juan M. Merchan.
It’s hard to tell at this point where the case will lead. While Trump and his team deny all claims of wrongdoing saying that the case is “political persecution,” it doesn’t seem that it has deterred his supporters.
For me, as a student who, for the first time, will be able to vote in the presidential election, I find it shocking that a man who has been put on trial and had multiple convictions and allegations in the last 2 years alone can still garner such support from American voters. Though I consider myself part of the “29% in U.S. [that] Say Neither Biden nor Trump Would Be [a] Good President”(Gallup News), I still find great fault in the facet of our political system that allows a person on trial for a felony to run for office. This is not to say that Trump is guilty, as he is innocent until proven otherwise. It is just to say that this should be a wake-up call for the American voter. No matter who the people vote for in this year’s presidential election, they must do their research, be educated, and choose who will serve our country well.
